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11.08.2011

Hurry Up and Wait

I don’t talk
about my work too much, since it’s not really appropriate. However (and isn’t
there always a however), I want to talk a little bit about the waiting and the
hurrying up.

I work on a
temporary basis, contract by contract. I am like a freelance writer. But I am
not a freelance writer. Wouldn’t that be cool though? Like a freelance writer,
I get called up when there is a job (or story in their case) available. The
boss sets the terms. For each contract, the initial work period is generally 90
days, and can be extended out to more, depending on the duration of the job.
So, I agree to work for 90 days and then I jump on a plane to wherever the new
job is and I start working. Hence the “hurry up”. Usually 72 hours or less
(usually more like 24 hours) after I get a call, I am on a plane heading
somewhere new.

Sometimes
the work lasts 90 days. Sometimes it lasts for years. Usually, as long as I
work at least the agreed upon 90 days, I can leave afterwards at any time.
Generally, I do not leave after only 90 days; I would rather work as long as I
can, since afterwards it is unknown as to how long I will have before the next
contract.

Right now I
am in the “wait” portion. This is where I have finished my last contract and am
waiting for a call for the next. Each part has its ups and downs. Both the
hurry up and the wait make it hard to plan the rest of your life. Will the
current job last for 90 days or 900? Will I wait for days or weeks or maybe
even months for the next job to come along? Financially, it can be hard. You
work and save but you are not sure how much you need to save and then you have
time off but you try to be frugal in case another job doesn’t come along soon.

Mentally, it
is difficult. I gave up my (great) apartment in San Francisco because I
couldn’t justify spending that much money each month on rent when I was never
home. So, all my things are in storage and when I am in between jobs I stay
with my parents. This is fine for a few weeks, but when weeks turn into months
I start to wonder what I am doing with my life. I start to think that maybe it
is worth spending money each month, just to have a place to come home to and to
call my own. Does anyone want to rent me a very nice apartment in San Francisco
for less than $500? No? I didn’t think so.

Then I get
the call again and I hurry out the door once more and my angst about needing
space and a place to hang my hat goes by the wayside. New fears take its place.
Remember when I talked about change? Starting over again every so often is
hard. I end up in a strange place and don’t know the lay of the land or the
people. This can be fun and exciting, but it can also be scary and tedious.
It’s like a new relationship. First dates are fun and exciting, but isn’t it nice
when you get to year one and you know everything about each other and you are
comfortable? I sometimes get tired of going on yet another “first date” and
having to ask the same questions over and over. I want to be comfortable.

I guess what
I am trying to say is that it’s not very often that I am comfortable. Whether I
am hurrying up or waiting, I am a little on edge. I am a little uncertain at
all times. Will I get a job? When will I get one? Now that I have one, will I
do a good job? Will I get along with the new client/boss/coworkers? How long
will this last? Doubt is not fun. Luckily it is not always there. It comes and
it goes. Just like me. Coming and going. Hurrying up and waiting.

Is there a situation where you have doubted
yourself? What was the result?

7 comments:

I really hope that your waiting period doesn't last for long this time and that you get a call soon! My current job is a one-year contract position and while it is now looking likely that my contract will be renewed for next year, I'm also on the look-out for permanent positions. It can be hard to build a life when there are so many elements of uncertainty, but, as you said, it can also be exciting.

Wow, I can imagine that would be pretty hard on you. A tough life, but I am hoping you find the job at least rewarding!! :) And you do so great always adapting. I hope the wait isn't too long (or would you like longer, I'll wish for that too). And who knows where this next adventure will take you!!

I really hope you get a new position soon... I do not deal well with things being up in the air... I need to be able to plan and react.

I doubted myself when I started my new job in January. I knew it was going to be a stretch job for me and would challenge me but I was afraid after my bad experience at the company I refer to as 'the psych experiment'. I thought - what if that happens again. And in the beginning, I was paranoid that I wasn't living up to my bosses expectations. Then one day he said something about how he hoped I was happy because he could tell I was a great fit and that things were clicking. And i realized in that moment that my perception was not in line with reality... and I stopped being so hard on myself....

That sounds really stressful. Funemployment is one thing, because you know when the next job starts. Vacation is totally different. Being in between gigs is not for the faint of heart of heavily familied.

I know we've talked about this before and I hope a new job comes your way soon. But your lifestyle is very much the kind I crave. Obviously there are some drawbacks to it, but I think it mostly sounds just chaotic enough to keep me interested.

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